Sharks bounce back by thumping Waratahs

The Sharks recovered from their loss to the Bulls last week by hammering the Waratahs 32-10 at Kings Park in Durban.

The Sharks outscored the Waratahs by two tries to one in the one sided contest. The Waratahs scored their consolation try three minutes from full time.

Second-half tries by Ryan Kankowski and Keegan Daniel helped the Sharks consolidate
their position on top of the Super Rugby table.

Stand-in fly-half Fred Zeilinga turned in a faultless kicking display with
19 points to his name as the hosts dominated against their ill-disciplined visitors.

The Australians managed a late consolation try through Bernard Foley, who kicked
all their points on a warm night on the east coast.

The Waratahs made a flying start thanks to a superb Adam Ashley-Cooper break
through the middle, and after the ball was recycled, Frans Steyn was caught
off-side, allowing Foley to slot over the first points.

The hosts were level after 10 minutes as Jaques Potgieter returned the favour
by straying into illegal territory by going offside -- the injured Patrick Lambie's
replacement Zeilinga, making his first start for the coastal franchise, converting
the penalty from right in front.

Seven minute later the Sharks number 10 banged over another three-pointer to
put his team in front after a dangerous tackle on Steyn by Rob Horne, who was
lucky to escape a trip to the sin bin.

Zeilinga added a third penalty just after the opening quarter when Benn Robinson
was punished for collapsing the scrum, with Foley missing a chance to win back
the three points when he shot wide after Marcell Coetzee failed to roll away.

Steyn made the visitors pay for that miss when he knocked over a monster 52-metre
kick on the stroke of half time as the Sharks led by nine.

After the restart, Foley wasted a second kick that drifted wide, while another
long-range Steyn effort was just off target this time.

But the game changed after 48 minutes when Waratahs captain David Dennis was
yellow carded for an off-the-ball incident with opposite number Bismarck du
Plessis.

And the Sharks made full use of their advantage, winning a penalty line-out
on attack and pushing over through Kankowski.

Zeilinga added the conversion and followed that up with a 65th minute off-side
penalty as the hosts took total control.

Daniel, making his first appearance of the season from the bench, added a second
try with eight minutes to go following a quick tap-and-go taken by himself on
the left as the penalty count increased against the New South Wales outfit.

Foley managed a consolation try two minutes from time when he ran on to Pat
McCutcheon's pass to score under the post.